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A Mother's Heartbreak
'Jennie Felton knows how to tell a cracking story and keep the reader gripped... if you enjoy reading books in the style of Catherine Cookson then this one is for you' Books With Wine and Chocolate
'Another superbly woven and character-rich story from a saga author who writes from the heart' Peterborough Telegraph
'Packed full of Jennie's signature strong heroines, this book will keep you guessing' MNR Journal
In the grand tradition of Josephine Cox, Dilly Court and Rosie Goodwin, comes a powerfully heartrending new saga from Jennie Felton, 'one of the nation's favourite saga writers' (Lancashire Post). A Mother's Heartbreak is a story of family secrets, romance, and triumph in adversity.
................................................................................
After a tragic loss, can she ever find happiness?
When her father dies, Abigail Newman is forced to leave her mother and the vicarage she was raised in and take up the position of governess to the son of Sir Hugh Hastings. Arriving at the grand estate of Bramley Court, Abi, who is concealing a heartbreaking secret, finds a family haunted by a tragic loss.
But Bramley Court is also filled with secrets. Why is Sir Hugh's wife, Lady Imogen, so sure she can still hear the cries of the little boy she lost eighteen months ago? And what is the history between the mysterious, glamorous visitor, Constance Bingham, and complex, charismatic Sir Hugh?
As Abi weaves herself into the fabric of the house and family, she longs to help the people she's come to care for so deeply. Will they find peace and Abi heal her own broken heart?
................................................................................
For more heartwrenching, heartwarming saga, look out for The Stolen Child, A Mother's Sacrifice and The Smuggler's Girl, out now!
And don't miss Jennie's Families of Fairley Terrace series, which began with Maggie's story in All The Dark Secrets and continued with Lucy's story in The Miner's Daughter, Edie's story in The Girl Below Stairs, Carina's story in The Widow's Promise and Laurel's story in The Sister's Secret.
'Another superbly woven and character-rich story from a saga author who writes from the heart' Peterborough Telegraph
'Packed full of Jennie's signature strong heroines, this book will keep you guessing' MNR Journal
In the grand tradition of Josephine Cox, Dilly Court and Rosie Goodwin, comes a powerfully heartrending new saga from Jennie Felton, 'one of the nation's favourite saga writers' (Lancashire Post). A Mother's Heartbreak is a story of family secrets, romance, and triumph in adversity.
................................................................................
After a tragic loss, can she ever find happiness?
When her father dies, Abigail Newman is forced to leave her mother and the vicarage she was raised in and take up the position of governess to the son of Sir Hugh Hastings. Arriving at the grand estate of Bramley Court, Abi, who is concealing a heartbreaking secret, finds a family haunted by a tragic loss.
But Bramley Court is also filled with secrets. Why is Sir Hugh's wife, Lady Imogen, so sure she can still hear the cries of the little boy she lost eighteen months ago? And what is the history between the mysterious, glamorous visitor, Constance Bingham, and complex, charismatic Sir Hugh?
As Abi weaves herself into the fabric of the house and family, she longs to help the people she's come to care for so deeply. Will they find peace and Abi heal her own broken heart?
................................................................................
For more heartwrenching, heartwarming saga, look out for The Stolen Child, A Mother's Sacrifice and The Smuggler's Girl, out now!
And don't miss Jennie's Families of Fairley Terrace series, which began with Maggie's story in All The Dark Secrets and continued with Lucy's story in The Miner's Daughter, Edie's story in The Girl Below Stairs, Carina's story in The Widow's Promise and Laurel's story in The Sister's Secret.
345 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 15, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 31, 2025
Three and a half stars
After her father dies Abigail Newman has to leave the vicarage where she was raised by her vicar father and her mother Abigail. Her mother is able to stay on as housekeeper for the new vicar But Abigail takes up a position as a governess for the son of Sir Hugh Hastings. When she arrives at Bramley Court Abigail, usually known as Abi, is concealing her own heartbreaking secret of loss, but Bramley Court has its own secrets. Sir Hugh’s wife Lady Imogen is sure she can hear the cries of her little boy Robbie who died 18 months earlierl. She claims to hear him calling her.
But of course that’s impossible. Could someone be playing a trick on her? And if so who and why? Or is her mind going? Sir Hugh is concerned for her but he is determined not to put her in an asylum, despite advice he has had saying that is what he should do. Then there was is the glamorous Constance Bingham who keeps visiting Hugh Is there something between them?
Abi quickly comes to care for Imogen and wants to try and help her as well as teaching Sir Hugh’s son Frederick, or Freddie as he likes to be called. Freddie is the son of Sir Hugh and his beloved first wife, Marigold.
The Bramley housekeeper, who was devoted to Marigold, is a hard woman and she and Abi come into conflict a few times. Freddie is known for playing pranks but surely the voice Lady Imogen hears in the night is not Freddie playing tricks is it? And if so, why would he do it? Or did someone put him up to it?
I enjoyed a lot of this book, and I liked Abi a lot. She has a very caring heart. I sympathised with Lady Imogen. However towards the end I thought the plot became hard to believe. And I wasn’t sure about certain aspects of the end at all. Still I did engage with a lot of the book.
So, if you think it sounds like your kind of book, maybe give it a try. I thought some events were a bit too convenient or far-fetched but still it had me interested enough to keep reading. It certainly does play on the emotions.
After her father dies Abigail Newman has to leave the vicarage where she was raised by her vicar father and her mother Abigail. Her mother is able to stay on as housekeeper for the new vicar But Abigail takes up a position as a governess for the son of Sir Hugh Hastings. When she arrives at Bramley Court Abigail, usually known as Abi, is concealing her own heartbreaking secret of loss, but Bramley Court has its own secrets. Sir Hugh’s wife Lady Imogen is sure she can hear the cries of her little boy Robbie who died 18 months earlierl. She claims to hear him calling her.
But of course that’s impossible. Could someone be playing a trick on her? And if so who and why? Or is her mind going? Sir Hugh is concerned for her but he is determined not to put her in an asylum, despite advice he has had saying that is what he should do. Then there was is the glamorous Constance Bingham who keeps visiting Hugh Is there something between them?
Abi quickly comes to care for Imogen and wants to try and help her as well as teaching Sir Hugh’s son Frederick, or Freddie as he likes to be called. Freddie is the son of Sir Hugh and his beloved first wife, Marigold.
The Bramley housekeeper, who was devoted to Marigold, is a hard woman and she and Abi come into conflict a few times. Freddie is known for playing pranks but surely the voice Lady Imogen hears in the night is not Freddie playing tricks is it? And if so, why would he do it? Or did someone put him up to it?
I enjoyed a lot of this book, and I liked Abi a lot. She has a very caring heart. I sympathised with Lady Imogen. However towards the end I thought the plot became hard to believe. And I wasn’t sure about certain aspects of the end at all. Still I did engage with a lot of the book.
So, if you think it sounds like your kind of book, maybe give it a try. I thought some events were a bit too convenient or far-fetched but still it had me interested enough to keep reading. It certainly does play on the emotions.
May 28, 2024
Really lovely story!
May 18, 2023
When Abi's father who was the local vicar dies her mother decides the best thing to do is for Abi to marry the replacement vicar and that will ensure they won't have to leave the vicarage.
Abi is as appalled with that as she is with the other men her mother wishes to marry her off to.
Having taught at the dame school her mother ran Abi secures a position as a governess at the grand Bramley Court owned by Sir Hugh Hastings.
All is not well there as the family have suffered a terrible loss and Lady Imogen just can't get over it.
Abi enjoys teaching their son Freddie and tries to do her best for Lady Imogen but some people behind the scenes don't want Imogen to recover and will do anything to keep that from happening.
This is another page turner by Jennie Felton. Set in England in the days of horses and carriages, landed gentry and chimney sweeps sending little boys up chimneys. The main characters were very likable and I especially liked Malcolm the new vicar.
Every book has to have a protagonist and the housekeeper and Constance fitted the bill nicely. There are some people who seem trustworthy and are not, but such is life.
A few twists and turns and times when I couldn't put this book down which is what I want in a story. I did have a few tears in my eyes at the ending,but happy tears.
Family, love, grief and secrets are all set between the pages of this book.
Abi is as appalled with that as she is with the other men her mother wishes to marry her off to.
Having taught at the dame school her mother ran Abi secures a position as a governess at the grand Bramley Court owned by Sir Hugh Hastings.
All is not well there as the family have suffered a terrible loss and Lady Imogen just can't get over it.
Abi enjoys teaching their son Freddie and tries to do her best for Lady Imogen but some people behind the scenes don't want Imogen to recover and will do anything to keep that from happening.
This is another page turner by Jennie Felton. Set in England in the days of horses and carriages, landed gentry and chimney sweeps sending little boys up chimneys. The main characters were very likable and I especially liked Malcolm the new vicar.
Every book has to have a protagonist and the housekeeper and Constance fitted the bill nicely. There are some people who seem trustworthy and are not, but such is life.
A few twists and turns and times when I couldn't put this book down which is what I want in a story. I did have a few tears in my eyes at the ending,but happy tears.
Family, love, grief and secrets are all set between the pages of this book.
January 9, 2023
This book is very sad at the beginning, and is a must to read it took me 2 days to read it as I couldn't put it down Love Jennie's books such a good Author
June 6, 2023
A Mothers heartbreak
Enjoyed this book well written with all its twists and turns keeps the reader wondering what will happen next.Very happy to recommend
Enjoyed this book well written with all its twists and turns keeps the reader wondering what will happen next.Very happy to recommend
September 15, 2024
Great story 5* love Jennie Felton books
May 18, 2025
This was a lovely book to read. Enjoyed it from beginning to end
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews